Jordan Staal Trade: Penguins Star Shipped to Hurricanes in Huge Exchange

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes made the first blockbuster trade of the 2012 NHL draft on Friday, with the Penguins trading Jordan Staal for center Brandon Sutter, defenseman Brian Dumoulin and the No. 8 overall pick.

With the No. 8 overall pick, the Penguins selected Portland defenseman Derrick Pouliot from the WHL.

Ironically, Staal was traded right before his wedding on Friday night in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He will join his brother, Eric, on the Hurricanes.

The Staal brothers should provide a dynamic combo for the Hurricanes. Eric, 27, racked up 24 goals and 70 points for Carolina in 82 games this past season. Jordan, 23 years old and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft, produced 25 goals and 50 points in 62 games for Pittsburgh. He racked up nine points (six goals and three assists) in the postseason for the Penguins.

Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford said, via Hurricanes.NHL.com:

"

Jordan is an elite two-way player who possesses a rare combination of speed, size, scoring ability and defensive responsibility. For his young age, he has a wealth of NHL experience, including winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. And he is obviously a natural fit for our team in joining our captain, his older brother Eric.

"

As for the Penguins, they add a promising young defenseman in Pouliot and a 2007 first-round pick in Sutter who has yet to realize his potential (32 points in 2011-12).

Pouliot is one of the best offensive defenders in the class, sporting impressive playmaking ability and shooting, along with electric skating ability and hands. Few tabbed him to be a Top 10 pick, but the Penguins have been eying him for some time now.